Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 24, 2026 – The European Union on Thursday imposed sanctions on Russian commentator and former RT France chief Xenia Fedorova, following her expulsion from France earlier this year over allegations of disseminating disinformation. The restrictive measures mark a significant escalation in European-level actions against individuals accused of acting as conduits for Kremlin influence operations. The announcement solidifies coordinated regulatory steps taken by European authorities concerning foreign interference and media security.
Background on the Expulsion From France
Xenia Fedorova, who served as the head of RT France from 2017 until its closure, became the subject of a French Ministry of the Interior expulsion order issued on 29 July. French authorities justified the deportation order by asserting that Fedorova acted as a relay for disinformation campaigns directed by Russian authorities. According to the ministerial decree, her activities were determined to undermine the fundamental interests of the state and constituted a serious and current threat to public order.
Following the issuance of the deportation order, French authorities implemented parallel administrative restrictions. Fedorova’s financial assets were frozen for a period of six months, and she was subjected to mandatory daily reporting requirements at a police station. Legal representatives for Fedorova challenged the measures before a Paris court. On 3 August, the court rejected the appeal, upholding the expulsion order and associated restrictions. Legal sources noted that Fedorova was outside France when the decree was finalized and confirmed she would not return while the order remained active.
Subsequent Employment and Media Reactions
After the closure of RT France in response to European Union-wide broadcasting bans enacted following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, Fedorova remained in France. She transitioned into a role as a regular commentator and columnist across several French conservative media outlets owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, including CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche. Her contributions to these platforms frequently centered on political commentary regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war and domestic European policies.
The employment of Fedorova within mainstream French media sparked considerable public debate and political friction. French officials, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, publicly characterized her as a certified propagandist serving Kremlin interests. Tensions escalated further when Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned CNews management that the network could face criminal charges if Fedorova continued to appear in their broadcasts. Representatives for the media groups employing her, alongside her defense counsel, consistently defended her work, characterizing the government actions as a severe infringement upon freedom of expression and professional journalism.
European Union Regulatory Framework
The decision by the European Union to impose formal sanctions on 24 September extends the national measures enacted by Paris to a bloc-wide level. European institutions have increasingly targeted individuals and entities identified as part of broader information manipulation networks. The sanctions framework utilizes asset freezes and travel restrictions to curb the activities of persons deemed responsible for actions that undermine the security, democratic stability, and institutional trust of European Union member states.
The measures build upon previous EU-wide prohibitions implemented against Russian state-backed outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, which were suspended from broadcasting within the bloc in 2022. Subsequent packages of restrictive measures have similarly targeted platforms and commentators accused of executing coordinated disinformation strategies. The inclusion of Fedorova on the sanctions list formalizes the bloc’s cooperative stance on mitigating foreign information manipulation and interference operations.
